Teaching networked embedded control at the two-year college level

Abstract

During the next decade, we will witness the implementation of several large scale technically enabled innovations involving this nation's electrical power grid and the interstate highway system. These, and many other smaller, discipline specific, intelligent infrastructure systems will enhance the efficiency, safety, and security of human endeavors. Some describe the process of adding intelligence and connectivity to these systems as the creation of the "Internet of Things" or IoT. Already, academic and industry experts in various technical fields have given catchy names to these proposed systems: Smart Grid, IntelliDrive, Smart Buildings, Smart Home, ehealth care, are but a few names that have made it into the popular press. These large scale and not so large scale applications are becoming possible due to the convergence of several key technologies. Essentially, through the use of networked embedded controllers (known as ambient intelligence) and complex sensors and actuators (i.e. sensor networks) one is able to create intelligent infrastructure systems that have the potential to change almost every aspect of humankind's interaction with the environment. The understanding of the theory and operation of networked embedded controllers and their interaction with sensors and actuators will be one of the required skills needed to deal with these emerging technology applications. This paper will present details about a two course sequence that is designed for students at the two-year college level in the second year of an Electronic Systems Engineering Technology AS degree program. These two courses consist of both theory and laboratory work with a heavy reliance on student projects (typically, of an interdisciplinary nature) that involve the implementation of functional, proto-type, sensor/control networks. Using popular low-cost PIC® microcontroller development boards and a small, self-contained, non-IT, TCP/IP data network, students are able to construct sensor/control networks that can be accessed locally either through standard wired network connections (Ethernet) or wirelessly using either the IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) or IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) wireless standards or remotely through available mobile device apps. The successes and failures of the courses will be high-lighted, along with student reaction, examples of student projects, equipment challenges, and the paper concludes with ideas for future course improvements and/or adaptation to other formats or disciplines. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.